NMC Promotes Linda Hughes, PH.D., To Dean of Nursing

Date: May 3, 2012

Author: Ashley Bails

New Dean of Nursing, Dr. Lin Hughes

(OMAHA) - Nebraska Methodist College-The Josie Harper Campus (NMC) President and CEO Dennis Joslin, Ph.D., R.N., announced the promotion of Linda Carol Hughes from director of undergraduate nursing programs to dean of nursing, effective June 1, 2012. Hughes replaces Marilyn Valerio, who will retire at the conclusion of the school year.

Hughes will have responsibility for delivering an excellent nursing educational experience on campus and online to students through visionary leadership of nursing faculty and staff, strategic planning, curricular quality and efficiency, program integrity, accreditation requirements, and student satisfaction.

"For more than 20 years at Nebraska Methodist College, Linda has demonstrated a passion for nursing and caring for people," Joslin said. "That passion, combined with 40 years of experience, makes Linda the perfect candidate to take on this extremely important role at a very important time in nursing education."

Hughes began her career as a staff nurse in the operating room at St. Francis Hospital in Colorado Springs, Colo. She worked at hospitals in Georgia, Maine, South Dakota, Ohio and California before settling down in Omaha as a staff nurse at Methodist Hospital. That same year, she was hired as an assistant professor at NMC.

Hughes is an intensive care nurse and is certified as C.C.R.N. She has taught in diploma, associate degree, B.S.N. and graduate programs is each of the states she has worked.

Hughes has served as director of NMC's Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program since 2005. She was promoted to full professorship in 2006. Additionally, she is a member of the college faculty senate, having served two years as the curriculum committee chairperson. Hughes is also a member of numerous academic and advisory groups.

After earning a diploma from Reading Hospital School of Nursing in West Reading, Penn., and a bachelor's degree a year later from Albright College in Reading, Penn., Hughes completed a bachelor of science in nursing degree (B.S.N.) from South Dakota State University in Brookings, S.D. That was followed by master's degree from Loma Linda University in Loma Linda, Calif., and a doctorate in nursing from the University of Nebraska Medical Center.